Window blind



Jan. 30, 1940. J. A. M LENNAN 2,133,575

' WINDOW BLIND I Filed Sept. 17, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN A. Ma LENNA N' ATTORNE Patented Jan. 30,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to an adjustable window blind. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a window blind consisting of a plurality of vertically disposed slats, the positions of which may be adjusted to control the amount and direction of light and air passing through a window. Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable window blind of the class described which is particularly suitable for use in private homes, oflice buildings, shops and the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustable window blind of extremely simplified design and one which may be constructed at a price materially less than the cost of similar structures now available on the market. Moreover, it is an object of this invention to provide an adjustable window blind which will be effectual for the purpose intended and extremely simple to operate. Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a device of the character described which will permit a wider range of adjustments than heretofore thought possible.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as this specification proceeds and the novelty thereof will be particular pointed out in the appended claims.

In general terms the aforementioned objects are accomplished by a provision of a plurality of vertical slats adapted to be suspended in juxtaposition to the window pane and adjustable about their vertical axes to control the direction and quantity of admitted light and air, and the invention resides specifically in the provision of novel means for suspending such vertical slats in the position described and permitting lateral adjustment of them to the opened and closed positions of the blind.

Additionally, the invention resides in a modified structure wherein upper and lower rows of slats are in vertical alignment and pivotally connected to define two halves of a blind the vanes of which are adjustable about their vertical axes independently of the positions of the connected slats.

In the drawings forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a perspective of the window blind forming the subject matter of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of a conventional window frame with the adjustable. window blind of my invention shown in place; and

Figure 3 is a perspective of the modified form of my invention.

The numeral l0 designates vertically disposed having a slot slats consisting of thin strips of wood, plastic, or any other substance having a desirable degree of rigidity. A plurality of the slats l0 are suspended vertically from an overhead frame ll, l2 extending longitudinally throughout its length, by means of swivel connections formed by eye bolts l4 and IS, the former of which has a threaded connection with the top of the slat l0 and the latter of which extends through the longitudinal slot 12 for engagement with a conventional nut H. A washer IS on the eyebolt I5 is of sufficient diameter to span slot l2 in frame member H and support the slat ID, as well as serve as a slide in the lateral movement of the slats to openand closed positions. {It will be seen from the foregoing description that each of the slats I0 is independently supported from the frame member H and slidable longitudinally thereon. As will be noted from Figures 1 and 2, the frame member I I is adapted to be attached to the casement 20 of a conventional window by means of the U-shaped brackets 2|. The brackets 2| are fastened to the frame II in a manner to span the slot l2 and provide clearance for the nuts and washers l1 and I6, respectively, thesaid U-shaped members 2| being attached to the casement 20 by means of conventional screws 22.

Interconnection between the slats l0 for group adjustment is accomplished by means of the chains 25. extending along the two top edgesof the slats Ill and attached to the clips 26 thereon. (See Figure 1.) As will be noted from Figure 1, in the preferred form of the invention, the window blind is divided into two sections, each of which is adapted to be moved and adjusted independently of each other. Chains 21 attached to the window frame 28 and the outermost slat l0, check the lateral movement of the two segments of slats.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that my window blind is adjusted by grasping the innermost slat in one of the sections thereof and pulling it along on the supporting frame I I. As the slack is taken up in the chains 25, each of the other slats in the section is caused to follow until the particular section of the blind is in the full open, position illustrated in the righthand portion of Figure 1 of the drawings. If it be desired to then adjust the slats l0 about their vertical axes, manual movement of any one of the slats l0 in the particular section will the desired drawings, I show a window blind constructed in accordance with the basic principles of the invention with the exception that instead of a plurality of individual slats lfl extending the full height of the blind, there is provided a plurality of slats 3|! and 3| arranged in vertical alignment todeflne upper and lower halves of the window blind. The upper half of the window blind is supported in the identical manner as that shown in Figure 1 of the drawings by a connection to the frame member II. The slats 3|, forming the lower half of the blind, have swivel conections with slats 30 to permit the adjustment of the lower half of the blind independently of the position of the upper half. These swivel connections consist in the pins 32 each of the ends of which are peaned in the clips 33 and 84 on the ends of slats 30 and 3|,

respectively. In this modification the slats 3| forming the lower half of the window blind are interconnected by chains 35 disposed at either edge of the bottom ends of said slats.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the modified form of the invention operates in substantially the manner of the preferred form with. the exception that the pitch of the slats in the upper and lower halves may be adjusted independently of each other by manually turning the interconnected slats 30 or 3| about on their pivotal supporting means I or 32, respectively.

It is believed plain from the foregoing disclosure and the accompanyingdrawings that I have devised an extremely simplified and yet efficient form of adjustable window blind which may be easily operated and which, due to extreme simplicity of construction, reduces the possibility of the blind getting out of working order to an irreducible minimum. Moreover, the window blind of my invention permits of a more desirable adjustment of the light excluding slats or louvres.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by grant of Letters Patent is:

1. In an adjustable window blind, a horizontally disposed frame member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, a plurality of slidable members spanning the slot in said frame, each of said slidable members having a dependent member projecting through said slot in said frame, upper and lower rows of slats arranged in vertical axial alignment, the uppermost row of slats being pivotally connected to the dependent members on said slidable members, the lowermost row ,of slats being pivotally connected to the bottoms of the slats in the upper row.

2. In an adjustable window blind, a horizontally disposed frame member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, a plurality of slidable members spanning the slot in said frame, each of said slidable members having a dependent member projecting through said slot in said frame, upper and lower rows of slats arranged in vertical axial alignment, the uppermost row of slats being pivotally connected to the dependent members of said slidable members, the lowermost rows lof slats being pivotally connected to the bottoms of the slats in the upper row, and flexible means interconnecting the slats in the respective rows'for uniform adjustment about their vertical axes.

3. In an adjustable window blind, a horizontally disposed frame member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, a plurality of slidable members supported on said frame and spanning the slot therein, each of said slidable .members having a dependent member projecting through said slot in said frame, upper and lower rows of slats in vertical axial alignment.

' the uppermost row being pivotally connected to the dependent members on said slidable members, the slats in lowermost row being pivotally connected to the corresponding slats in the upper row, and flexible means interconnecting the slats in the respective rows for uniform adjustment about their vertical axes.

4. In an adjustable window blind, a horizontally disposed frame member having a longitudinally extending'slot therein, a plurality of eye bolts projecting through-said slot and having on their upper ends a slidable member spanning the slot, a plurality of vertically disposed slats pivotally connected to said eye bolts, and

flexible means interconnecting the slats for uniform adjustment about their vertical axes.

5. In an adjustable window blind, a horizon tally disposed frame member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, a plurality of eye bolts projecting through said slot, each of said eye bolts having on its upper end a washer sufficient in diameter to span the slot in the frame member, a plurality of vertically disposed slats pivotally connected to said eye bolts, and flexible means interconnecting the slats for uniform adjustment about their vertical axes.

6. In an adjustable window blind, a horizontally disposed frame member having a longitu- 

